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Unlike its corporate cousin, Viacom, CBS seems to have had no problem agreeing on a new retransmission deal with DirecTV. The companies vaguely refer to it as “long term” and didn’t disclose any terms — including whether it includes extensive rights for DirecTV to stream CBS’ programs to subscribers. But it covers all of the CBS owned and operated stations, Showtime, CBS Sports Network and Smithsonian Channel. The No. 1 satellite company, which has 19.9M U.S. subscribers, accounts for about 16.9% of the audience for the CBS-owned stations, according to SNL Kagan data. “DIRECTV clearly recognizes the value our stations and our cable channels bring to the audiences we share, and we have once again demonstrated how two great companies can come together to forge mutually beneficial free market agreements,” says CBS EVP Martin Franks.

I don't know about CBS, but I've had my suspicions that an On Demand channel for The CW might be coming soon, and maybe the agreement above is why... though if it's like ABC and NBC's On Demand pages, it'd be SD only, so of little interest to me personally, but it'd be nice to have regardless...

Unlike its corporate cousin, Viacom, CBS seems to have had no problem agreeing on a new retransmission deal with DirecTV. The companies vaguely refer to it as “long term” and didn’t disclose any terms — including whether it includes extensive rights for DirecTV to stream CBS’ programs to subscribers. But it covers all of the CBS owned and operated stations, Showtime, CBS Sports Network and Smithsonian Channel. The No. 1 satellite company, which has 19.9M U.S. subscribers, accounts for about 16.9% of the audience for the CBS-owned stations, according to SNL Kagan data. “DIRECTV clearly recognizes the value our stations and our cable channels bring to the audiences we share, and we have once again demonstrated how two great companies can come together to forge mutually beneficial free market agreements,” says CBS EVP Martin Franks.

Well, that is one out of the two I know of that are negotiating in the bag.... the other is Discovery Communications. Not sure exactly when their terms are up, but media has been quoting during the Tribune and Viacom negotiations that they were to renegotiate "this year".

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.

Why these companies let their egos get involved is beyond me. They are big boys playing in the big leagues. Drop the attitude at the door, would ya?

Sometimes I understand why there is no agreement. PAC-12 is one of those. It could be an era-defining contract for DirecTV, establishing their rates and terms as the sports market disintegrates from a few dominant players - ESPN and the broadcast networks - into many small, specialized franchises. But CBS and some cable networks? That is pretty cut and dried. It should be a deal that could be put together relatively easily.

“DIRECTV clearly recognizes the value our stations and our cable channels bring to the audiences we share, and we have once again demonstrated how two great companies can come together to forge mutually beneficial free market agreements,” says CBS EVP Martin Franks.

And that I concur. Even though I watch sports 95% of the time most of the primetime shows from CBS take up a lot of space on my DVR.

But in addition to its primetime slate, CBS has the NFL, the SEC, and the NCAA Tournament including the final four. I am glad to see that it includes the CBS Sports Network and the Smithsonian channel (found on HDXP).

I guess since there was hardly any drama on this, CBS must have made a reasonable offer or are more confident of the money they will make from all their advertising because of their programming. And that is something the other channels should take note (Pac-12 Network, TWCSN et.al.).

Subscribed to DirecTV for NFL Sunday Ticket, remained a subscriber for international football.

I received email tonight from Optimum (formerly Cablevision) that CBS is joining ABC, NBC and Fox for On Demand viewing the day after new episodes air. I don't recall CBS being available before, but it's good to know CBS is even allowing this...

Unlike its corporate cousin, Viacom, CBS seems to have had no problem agreeing on a new retransmission deal with DirecTV. The companies vaguely refer to it as “long term” and didn’t disclose any terms — including whether it includes extensive rights for DirecTV to stream CBS’ programs to subscribers. But it covers all of the CBS owned and operated stations, Showtime, CBS Sports Network and Smithsonian Channel. The No. 1 satellite company, which has 19.9M U.S. subscribers, accounts for about 16.9% of the audience for the CBS-owned stations, according to SNL Kagan data. “DIRECTV clearly recognizes the value our stations and our cable channels bring to the audiences we share, and we have once again demonstrated how two great companies can come together to forge mutually beneficial free market agreements,” says CBS EVP Martin Franks.

*They currently have free 1080p HD content available (if you subscribe to HD Extra Pack) through channel 1100 (although when downloaded it will show 1000), its quite tedious to find the titles on the DVR but much easier through this link on the D* website

Talk about early??..the norm these days is that you see a channel ticker scrolling across the bottom of the screen warning of a pull..now we have an early agreement??

It was pretty much the consensus of the media and experts that in the Viacom and Tribune standoffs, those companies LOST big time. They lost millions in advertising dollars, and didn't get the price they wanted (or in the case of Viacom, they didn't get EPIX rolled in as well).

Companies like CBS must have seen this happening, and figured it is better to either set a realistic price, and/or negotiate early. With these kinds of disputes, subscribers will pretty much NOT switch in the first two weeks. Those two weeks however that they are black on DirecTV, the media companies WILL lose millions of dollars.

I think CBS figured out that even 1 day of no networks on CBS means they are losing money, and they have seen the writing on the wall regarding the tough negotiation stance of DirecTV.

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.

I received email tonight from Optimum (formerly Cablevision) that CBS is joining ABC, NBC and Fox for On Demand viewing the day after new episodes air. I don't recall CBS being available before, but it's good to know CBS is even allowing this...

Would be nice if DirecTV added that too. I can't stand that if I miss an episode on CBS and don't notice it for a week or two, it is not even available on the CBS website.